Rohit Sharma with Ayush Mhatre (Source: Instagram/Ayush Mhatre)
India’s Champion Trophy 2025-winning captain Rohit Sharma may no longer feature regularly across all three formats, but the legacy he has built remains a source of admiration and inspiration.
He has already called time on his Test and T20I careers, and is most likely to hang up his boots in One Day Internationals (ODIs). If the reports are to be believed, the Indian opener will be missed not just by those outside the Indian dressing room but also within it.
That being said, in this article, take a look at five youngsters who openly showed their admiration for Rohit Sharma.
5) Jitesh Sharma
Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma revealed in 2025 that he considers Rohit his batting idol and primary inspiration.
He has often shared that, when he was growing up, he learned a lot about the game by watching videos of Rohit batting, and that he considers Rohit one of his cricketing heroes.
In an exclusive interview with CricTracker, when asked what he had learnt from Rohit, Jitesh said, “I personally went and spoke to him. He said he understood that, because of my batting position, I have to take high risks, but it’s about giving yourself four or five balls; you can dominate the game anytime after that.”
4) Sanju Samson
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter has openly credited Rohit for his guidance, sharing that watching Rohit play taught him how to tackle big matches with confidence rather than pressure.
The Kerala cricketer recently appeared in a podcast with former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, where he said he idolised Rohit.
On the show, Ashwin asked, “(Who is) Your all-time cricketing idol, and one modern player that you get excited to watch, as a fan?"
Sanju replied, “That’s a big question. Uh… Rohit Sharma."
3) Ayush Mhatre
Young Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre on April 3, 2026, opened up about a memorable meeting with his idol Rohit Sharma, describing it as a “dreamy day” that left a lasting impression on him.
Moreover, Mhatre’s admiration for Rohit has been well known. Earlier, he had even written an emotional note after losing his spot to the former India captain in a Ranji Trophy match.
Once, Mhatre got a chance to meet his idol, a meeting that turned into a cherished experience for the young batter.
Also read: 5 Most Hilarious Rohit Sharma Press Conference Moments
Speaking on Chennai Super Kings’ YouTube channel, Mhatre revealed how a simple message led to a personal interaction with Rohit. In the meeting at Sharma’s residence, the veteran spent two hours sharing advice and gifted Mhatre a signed bat to support his international tours.
2) Shreyas Iyer
Both Shreyas Iyer and Rohit Sharma share a strong bond, having grown up playing cricket in Mumbai, and Iyer often credits Rohit as a supportive brotherly figure who consistently helped him throughout his domestic cricket journey.
Moreover, when the two Indian players appeared in an episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix, Iyer mentioned that Rohit has been his idol since childhood, and he has grown up watching him play.
After Iyer made an honest revelation, Rohit came up with a hilarious reply in his epic style, saying that all these players abuse him in the dressing room.
“Joke nahi kar raha hoon ya aise he butter up nahi kar raha hoon, but Rohit bhai chote se idol rahe hai. Kyuki vo bhi Mumbai se hai, mai bhi waha se hoon aur unko dekhte hue mai grow hua hoon,” Iyer said.
1) Tilak Varma
Rohit Sharma is a huge cricketing idol and mentor for Tilak Varma. Ever since Tilak joined the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, Rohit has acted as his guiding force and biggest supporter. The youngster openly considers him a father figure and role model in the sport.
Tilak frequently shows his deep admiration for the "Hitman". After delivering a match-winning performance for Mumbai, Tilak famously made a "45" hand gesture (Rohit's jersey number) toward the dugout to dedicate the win to his idol.
He even noted that Rohit provides him with the crucial "guru mantra" for handling pressure, and had previously dedicated a half-century celebration to Rohit's daughter, Samaira.
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